JPH0415946B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a toner flying device for performing development, etc. in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or an electrostatic printer.

Conventional Structure and Problems Conventionally, there is a jumping development method using one component of magnetic insulating toner in a copying machine or the like that performs development by flying toner. The configuration of the jumping development system includes a rotating sleeve located at a position facing the photosensitive drum, a fixed magnet located inside the rotating sleeve, and a magnetic blade located at a position facing the rotating sleeve. A high frequency AC voltage is applied between the rotary sleeve and the toner adsorbed on the rotary sleeve to fly.

In this developing method, toner is attracted onto a rotating sleeve by the magnetic force of a fixed magnet and transported. Therefore, it is necessary to use magnetic toner. However, since magnetic materials are generally colored, it is difficult to obtain clear color images, and therefore it is difficult to produce color images. In addition, with respect to the insulating toner that is frictionally charged with the rotating sleeve, only the toner near the surface of the rotating sleeve is triboelectrically charged. Therefore, in order to make the toner fly onto the photosensitive drum, it was necessary to form the toner on the rotating sleeve into an ultra-thin film layer. As a countermeasure, a magnetic blade with good straightness is installed at a position facing the rotating sleeve, and the gap between the rotating sleeve and the magnetic blade is precisely installed to create a magnetic curtain between the fixed magnet and the magnetic blade. The toner was formed into an ultra-thin film layer. As a result, there have been disadvantages such as increased cost of the magnetic blade and assembly cost for high-precision adjustment.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problems of the conventional art, and makes it possible to develop toner that does not contain a magnetic material, makes colorization possible, and provides an inexpensive toner flying device that does not require high-precision adjustment. The purpose is to provide.

Structure of the Invention The toner flying device of the present invention includes a photoreceptor made of zinc oxide, selenium, etc., a toner receptor made of paper, metal, etc., a first electrode provided closely or adjacent to the toner receptor, a roller, a belt, etc. , an insulator using a movable dielectric material such as a sheet, a rotating or fixed second electrode surrounded by the insulator, and a rotating or fixed third electrode surrounded by the insulator; It consists of a hopper that stores toner made of a non-magnetic insulator or conductive material, and a rotating or fixed fourth electrode that is in close contact with the toner, and is connected to the first and second electrodes through the toner receptor and the insulator. Second electrodes are provided to face each other, and third and fourth electrodes are further provided to face each other with the toner and the insulator interposed therebetween, and a voltage is applied between the third and fourth electrodes. , the toner is electrostatically deposited on the insulator, and then a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes to cause the toner on the insulator to fly to the toner receptor.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a toner flying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and is an example used in a developing process of a copying machine.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive drum which is a toner receptor, and is provided, for example, by coating the surface of a first electrode 2 with a photosensitive material such as zinc oxide, selenium, OPC, or the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a charger which charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by applying a negative corona in the case of zinc oxide and a positive corona in the case of selenium from the high voltage power source 4 depending on the photosensitive material of the photosensitive drum 1. be. Reference numeral 5 denotes an optical section that projects a patterned light image onto the photosensitive drum 1 to form a latent image. Reference numeral 6 denotes an insulating belt, which is made of a dielectric material such as polyvinylidene fluoride, polyester, or neoprene rubber.
Reference numerals 7 and 8 denote second and third electrodes, which are constructed of metal rollers, and the belt 6 is connected to the second electrode 7.
and the third electrode 8. 9 is a conductive toner, for example, and 10 is a hopper containing the conductive toner 9. Reference numeral 11 denotes a fourth electrode, which is made of a metal plate, and is connected to the conductive toner 9 stored in the hopper 10.
It is located in close proximity to the

The first electrode 2 and the second electrode 7 are provided facing each other with the photosensitive drum 1 and the belt 6 interposed therebetween,
Furthermore, the third electrode 8 and the fourth electrode 11 are
They are provided facing each other with the conductive toner 9 and the belt 6 interposed therebetween. Although a driving source is not shown, the driving force is transmitted to the roller of the second electrode 7 or the third electrode 8 to move the belt 6. 12 is a high voltage power supply, which connects the third electrode 8 and the fourth electrode.
A voltage is applied between the belt 8 and the electrode 11 to electrostatically adhere the conductive toner 9 onto the belt 8.
13 is a high voltage power supply, which connects the first electrode 2 and the second power supply 7;
A voltage is applied between the belt 8 and the conductive toner 9 electrostatically deposited on the belt 8 to be caused to fly onto the photosensitive drum 1 by electrostatic force. Reference numeral 14 denotes a blade that uniformly regulates the amount of conductive toner 9 electrostatically deposited on the belt 8 when the belt 8 is rotated.

The operation of the developing process using the toner flying device of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

In FIG. 1, in order to make the operation easier to understand, a case will be described in which zinc oxide is used as the photosensitive material of the photoreceptor 1. Charger 3 and high voltage power supply 4
By applying a negative corona, the entire surface of the photoreceptor drum 1 is negatively charged. Next, a pattern light image is projected onto the charged photosensitive drum 1 by the optical section 5 to form a latent image.

Meanwhile, as shown in the figure, between the third electrode 8 and the fourth electrode 11 and between the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 7,
The belt 6 is polarized by applying a negative voltage to the third electrode 8 side and a positive voltage to the second electrode 7 side using the high voltage power supplies 12 and 13. When the belt 6 is polarized,
Belt 6 between third electrode 8 and fourth electrode 11
The conductive toner 9 is electrostatically attached to the top with a positive charge, and then when the belt 6 moves and the electrostatically attached conductive toner 9 comes to a position facing the photoreceptor drum 1, the conductive toner 9 Electrostatic force acts and the particles fly to the photoreceptor drum 1. Next, the flying conductive toner 9 adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1.

Next, regarding the second embodiment of the present invention, the second,
This will be explained with reference to FIG. FIGS. 2 and 3 are examples of use in the development process of an electrostatic printer.

In FIG. 2, 1a is an electrostatic recording paper which is a toner receptor. An electrostatic head 15 forms a latent image of an image pattern from an electric signal on the surface of the electrostatic recording paper 1a by, for example, negative charging. Reference numeral 6a denotes an insulating roller, which is made of a dielectric material such as polyvinylidene fluoride, polyester, or acrylic resin. 2a is a first electrode fixed to the main body. 7a and 8a are second and third electrodes, which are fixed electrodes integrally formed with an insulating plate 16 in between. Second and third electrodes 7a, 8a
is provided inside the insulating roller 6a, and the insulating roller 6a is provided rotatably with respect to the fixed electrode. Reference numeral 9a is an insulating toner, which is given a positive charge by a well-known method. 10a
is a hopper containing insulating toner 9a. 1
1a is the fourth electrode, which is made of a metal plate, and is connected to the hopper 1.
It is provided at a position in close contact with the insulating toner 9a stored in the insulating toner 9a.

The first electrode 2a and the second electrode 7a are provided facing each other via the electrostatic recording paper 1a and the insulating roller 6a, and the third electrode 8a and the fourth electrode
The electrode 11a is provided to face the insulating toner 9a and the insulating roller 6a. Although a driving source is not shown, its driving force is transmitted to the insulating roller 6a to rotate the insulating roller 6a.

Reference numeral 12a denotes a high-voltage power supply, which applies a voltage between the third electrode 8a and the fourth electrode 11a to transfer the positively charged insulating toner 9 onto the insulating roller 6a.
A is electrostatically deposited. 13a is a high-voltage power supply that applies a voltage between the first electrode 2a and the second electrode 7a, and transfers the insulating toner 9a electrostatically adhered onto the insulating roller 6a to the electrostatic recording paper 1a by electrostatic force. It is something that makes you fly. A blade 14a uniformly regulates the amount of insulating toner 9a electrostatically deposited on the insulating roller 6a when the insulating roller 6a is rotated. A transport roller 17 transports the electrostatic recording paper 1a. A thermal roller 18 heat-fixes the insulating toner 9 electrostatically deposited on the electrostatic recording paper 1a.

The operation of the developing process using the toner flying device of the second embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

The electrostatic head 15 forms a negatively charged latent image on the surface of the electrostatic recording paper 1a. Next, while the electrostatic recording paper 1a is positioned between the first electrode 2a and the insulating roller 6a by the transport roller 17, the third electrode
A voltage is applied from the high voltage power supply 12a between the electrode 8a and the fourth electrode 11a so that the third electrode 8a becomes negative, thereby polarizing the insulating roller 6a. When the insulating roller 6a is polarized, the insulating toner 9a with a positive charge electrostatically adheres to the insulating roller 6a, and then the insulating roller 6a rotates, and the electrostatically attached insulating toner 9a and the first The electrode 2a faces each other. Next, the electrostatic recording paper 1a is connected to the first electrode 2.
When the electrode is positioned between the electrode 2a and the insulating roller 6a, a voltage is applied between the first electrode 2a and the second electrode 7a by the high voltage power source 13a so that the second electrode 7a becomes positive. , polarizes the insulating roller 6a.
When the insulating roller 6a is polarized, an electrostatic force acts on the insulating toner 9a having a positive polarity on the roller, and the toner flies to the electrostatic recording paper 1a. Next, the flying insulating toner 9a adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic recording paper 1a.

In the first and second embodiments, the fourth electrodes 11, 11a were provided inside the hoppers 10, 10a, but the hoppers 1 in close contact with the toners 9, 9a
It may be provided in a part of 0 and 10a. Hotupa 10,
Providing the fourth electrodes 11, 11a on a part of the toner flying device 10a has the effect of making the toner flying device smaller. Furthermore, although the fourth electrodes 11 and 11a are configured as fixed electrodes, they may also be cylindrical rotating electrodes with an uneven outer peripheral surface. fourth electrode 11,
By making 11a a rotating electrode, toner 9,
This has the effect that the toner 9a is agitated and the supply of the toner 9, 9a to the insulators 6, 6a is improved. In the embodiment, the developing process has been described, but it can also be used in a toner dispersion device for electronic marking, which marks metal in shipbuilding and the like.

Effect of the invention According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since toner is transported and ejected using electrostatic force, there is no need for high-precision adjustment as in the conventional jumping development method.

(2) Toner that does not contain magnetic substances can be used.
Colorization is now possible.

(3) Conductive to insulating toners can be used to develop and dispense conductive to insulating toner receptors.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a main part of a toner flying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the main part of the toner flying device in the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view with the main part of the insulating roller section cut away. 1, 1a...toner receptor, 2,2a...first
electrode, 6, 6a... insulator, 7, 7a... second
electrode, 8, 8a... third electrode, 9, 9a...
Toner, 10, 10a...Hotsupa, 11, 11a
...Fourth electrode.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A movable insulator that includes four electrodes, the first to fourth electrodes, the first electrode being provided in close or close proximity to the toner receptor, and the second electrode and the third electrode being surrounded. a toner support made of a body, a fourth electrode facing the third electrode via the toner support made of toner and the insulator, and a toner support made of a toner receptor and the insulator; 1st through
A toner flying device in which an electrode and a second electrode are opposed to each other, and a potential difference is applied between at least the second electrode and the third electrode. 2. The toner flying device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is integrated with the toner receptor. 3. The toner flying device according to claim 1, wherein the fourth electrode is provided in a part of the hopper. 4. The toner flying device according to claim 1, wherein the insulator is a cylindrical roller, and another insulator is sandwiched between the second and third electrodes, and these are provided inside the cylindrical roller.